E112 Emperor, ’62

Sunburst, Serial # 75090

Debuting in 1935 as Epiphone’s top-of-the-line acoustic archtop, the Emperor was originally the company’s answer to Gibson’s 18″ wide Super 400. By the 1950’s, Epiphone was making a triple-pickup electric version. Originally called the Zepher Emperor Regent, this model name changed to Emperor Electric in 1954. Gibson continued to make an 18″ wide, triple pickup Emperor Electric, but incorporated the new thinline body style used on Byrdlands and ES-335s.

The 1962 Emperor pictured here has typical features for that year, including a 4-piece maple neck divided by three strips of mahogany, a rosewood fretboard with V-block inlays, a “tree of life” pattern adorning the headstock, and three gold-plated mini-humbucker pickups.

"They're all there, lined up on the wall, treated like true art. Soft lighting from above beams down at the various mahogany and maple tops.
We walked slowly past the rows, chattering excitedly amongst ourselves, wiping
up drool when appropriate.
It is the definition of guitar nirvana."